Data Destruction St Louis | Secure Document Destruction of St. Louis

  • Business Shredding
  • Residential Shredding
  • FAQs
    • Business Document Destruction FAQs
    • Residential Document Destruction FAQs
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

by

Why should my business shred business documents?

Shredding Services in St. Louis: Why should my business shred business documents?

When it comes to protecting your business’s sensitive documents and customer information, the old days are sounding pretty good, aren’t they? Technology and smart criminals have made shredding services in St. Louis a critical part of a businesses operations.

It really hasn’t been that long since we were worried about someone going through our trash to steal financial information such as bank statements, credit card information, tax records, private information, customer data, and other confidential information.

Then came the cyber criminals attacking the world’s largest companies, which continues to this day. And with this came an explosion of bad actors attacking businesses of all sizes, including the smallest of businesses.

As business owners (and consumers), make no mistake we are under attack. In fact, according to a recent report from IBM, the average cost of a data breach in 2023 reached an all-time high of $4.45 million. Even small businesses are not immune, as nearly 60% of small businesses shut down within six months of a major breach.

This article focuses on the purging of old records and information, whether in paper or electronic form. As experts in shredding services in St. Louis, We will give you some ideas and tips on how to reduce your risk and some cost-effective ideas to save you a little money along the way. Also, learn more about in our guide: how data privacy regulations are changing to protect businesses.

So, whether your business is an old hand when it comes to purging (but might be a little tardy in keeping up), or you haven’t pulled the trigger, this article should give you encouragement to shred business documents.

What is document purging?

Document purging—many call it document shredding—is the systematic elimination of outdated or unnecessary secure documents from a company’s records inventory. While many people associate this with paper shredding, purging also includes secure digital file destruction. This encompasses physical documents, such as paper records, and digital files stored in hard drives.

In short, regular document purging serves as a proactive measure to manage information overload, maintain data security, and ensure compliance with regulations.

As a leader in shredding services in St. Louis, we recommend at least one purge per year for most businesses, some even more often if they store highly confidential documents. By systematically identifying and disposing of obsolete documents, businesses can streamline their operations, optimize storage space, and mitigate the risks associated with unauthorized access to sensitive information.

We recommend our clients establish clear policies and procedures for both physical document destruction and digital records.

Now let’s dive into the details.

Why should you shred business documents with sensitive information?

Many companies hold on to the old ways of securing business documents, which is often simply storing them in boxes or file cabinets in an unused office or an off-site document storage facility.

Following are five good reasons not to do that:

1.    Data Security. A security breach can have far-reaching implications, from the obvious fallout of your sensitive information getting into the hands of bad guys to your company’s reputation being tarnished. Data breaches often lead to financial losses, legal trouble, and long-term damage to customer trust. Whoever said there is no such thing as bad publicity didn’t know what they were talking about.

2.    Regulatory Compliance. Every business has some level of regulations it must follow; some more than others, like financial institutions and healthcare. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a well-known example. Failing to comply with these regulations can result in hefty fines and lawsuits, as well as increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies.

3.    Space Management. Office space is pricey these days. In St. Louis, it is common to pay more than $20 per square foot, and even much more in higher demand areas. Why should valuable office space be taken by piles of boxes? The accumulation of paper and electronic records not only clutters workspaces, it clutters your IT systems. It breeds inefficiency and drains productivity. Shred business documents as soon as you can!

4.    Environmental Benefits. Recycling paper and electronics through regular shredding and disposal reduces your impact on the environment. Partnering with a shredding company that offers eco-friendly disposal methods can enhance your company’s sustainability efforts.

5.    Save Money. Depending on how far behind you are, you may be able to save on storage costs or external storage when you shred business documents. Regular disposal will also help keep you away from non-compliance of regulations, which could be very expensive. Additionally, reducing clutter improves workflow efficiency, potentially saving your business time and money in the long run.

Regular document purging and shredding is beginning to sound pretty good, isn’t it?

Let’s talk today about securely destroying important information

Let’s talk today about securely destroying important information

The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Document Security

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way businesses protect sensitive documents (and giving bad actors that want to steal it new ways to do it). See our recent article on how you can better manage the risks of AI impacting your small to medium business.

AI-powered tools can monitor access to digital files in real time, detecting anomalies and potential data breaches before they occur. Additionally, AI can automate document categorization, helping businesses ensure compliance with retention policies by flagging files that should be deleted or archived.

However, AI also presents new risks, including AI-generated phishing scams that trick employees into exposing sensitive information. Businesses should leverage AI responsibly to enhance security rather than create vulnerabilities.

We are continually adding new capabilities to go with our shredding services in St. Louis.

Legal and Financial Ramifications of Poor Document Management

Failing to properly dispose of sensitive documents can lead to severe legal and financial consequences.

Companies have faced multi-million-dollar fines for non-compliance with regulations like HIPAA, FACTA, and GDPR. In 2023, a healthcare company was fined $1.25 million for failing to securely dispose of patient records. Beyond fines, businesses also risk lawsuits from customers and vendors whose data is exposed due to improper document handling. A strong document retention and destruction policy can help prevent these costly mistakes.

Cyber Threats Beyond Document Storage

Cybercriminals don’t just target online databases—they exploit weaknesses in document storage and disposal.

Ransomware attacks often begin when hackers gain access to outdated or unprotected business records. Social engineering tactics, including AI-generated deepfake scams, trick employees into granting access to sensitive documents.

Businesses must be proactive by securing both physical and digital records to prevent data from becoming a liability. Implementing secure digital erasure techniques and partnering with a trusted document destruction service are key steps in mitigating these risks. And, shred unnecessary business documents as soon as possible.

One final thought. We haven’t focused much on what happens to a customer’s trust in your business if your data—their data—is stolen. No matter how well you clean up the mess, there will always be a lingering doubt.

Secure Document Destruction is a leader in shredding services in St. Louis.

Add button here: Contact us today to reduce your risks

Frequently Asked Questions

When should you shred business documents?

Businesses should shred business documents according to legal retention periods, typically every three to seven years, depending on the document type and industry regulations. Sensitive documents should be shredded as soon as they are no longer needed. Read some eye-popping issues on how bad actors are trying to scam your tax returns.

Does anyone shred documents for free?

Some community shredding events offer free shredding services in St. Louis, often hosted by local governments or businesses. However, for ongoing business needs, professional shredding services in St. Louis provide the most secure option.

What types of business documents should be shredded?

Shred business documents containing sensitive business, financial, or personal information, such as tax returns and tax records, employee files, client information, and bank statements.

What are the benefits of business shredding services in St. Louis?

Shredding protects against identity theft, ensures regulatory compliance, frees up office space, and helps maintain business security. Onsite shredding is the most secure method. Shred bins are placed throughout your business and are emptied on a regular schedule. See more insight on document shredding for businesses: onsite versus offsite shredding.

The shredding process is straightforward. A shred truck comes to your business location, the bins are emptied into the truck and everything is shredded at that time. Offsite shredding is a process where your documents are loaded into a truck and taken to an offsite drop-off location to be shredded at a later time.

What is the best way to shred a large volume of business documents?

For large volumes, document shredding services are the most efficient and secure option. SDD of St. Louis only provides onsite shredding, which we believe is the most effective method. Customers receive a certificate of destruction when the job is completed, providing further peace of mind.

Filed Under: Data Destruction

About

John has lived and breathed the document security industry for the last decade.  John prides himself on SDD’s ability to innovate and consistently stay ahead of the curve.  However, his approach toward the business has stayed consistent, delivering incredible customer service and complete document destruction for the St. Louis area.

Other posts you might like...

  • How and What Business Documents to Destroy: Keep Your Business Legal and Secure.
  • 8 Simple Tips to Protect Your Small Businesses Data
  • Make Sure Your Old Hard Drives are Properly Destroyed: Hard Drive Destruction FAQs

Free Quote

Secure Document Destruction

We specialize in secure onsite document and data destruction across the St. Louis Metro area!

Testimonials

"Thanks, John. Your company is first rate and I have already recommended it to several friends and relatives. Keep up the good work!"
Mike W.
"Thank you John. The service provided by SDD was outstanding. You provided everything that was promised and at the designated time arranged and I might add that your man that handled the job couldn't have been nicer or accommodating.. It is rare to find businesses that follow through with their promises. We appreciated doing business with you and would recommend SDD to anyone needing this service. Thank You!"
Joe B.
Distribution Sales, Leviton Manufacturing
"John did a great job! Friendly, answered all my questions, very helpful. Thanks for providing good service!"
Lana E.
Alton, IL
"We had a problem when our previous shredding company raised their prices sky-high. When we called SDD; John gave me a quote over the phone and came out the next day. They performed the same size job in about half the time, … at a lower price! We would recommend them highly to anyone who needs shredding."
Chris K.
Missouri Insurance Exchange
"It gives our company "peace of mind" to depend on the professional & personable, fast & efficient shredding services of Secure Document Destruction of St. Louis. I would highly recommend SDD STL. The service and price is exceptional!"
Laura K.
La De Da Entertainment
"Secure Document Destruction is AWESOME!! John always takes great care of us, the service is fast and reliable; John, our service/driver is great too. Looking back, I wish I would have switched to SDD sooner! 5 out of 5 stars!"
Tracy T.
Central Bank of St Louis
"Thank you! Everything went very well. Great customer service from beginning to end!! I am sure we will be in touch for future clean up projects."
Amy F.
Oasis Institute
"THANKS!!!! My house feels better with ALL that paper gone! The service was excellent!!! Thanks again!"
Kathy Ames
Desoto, MO
"SSD provided the shredding services for my business when I closed in 2013 and again in 2024 when I called on them to shred the last of the documents that had been held in storage. They were friendly, honest and very helpful throughout the difficult process which was made easy with their professionalism over the years I dealt with them and I highly recommend them."
Bob L.
Rock Hill, MO
"You and John are wonderful people and I thank you so much for working with me. God Bless you both."
Laura E
"Your service/driver guy, JP just came and did our pickup. He is such a nice, friendly person and so are you. It is great doing business with you guys."
Berry Silberberg Stokes PC

Contact Us

Secure Document Destruction of St. Louis
2517 Adie Rd.
Maryland Heights, MO 63043
(Appointments only at this location. Please call 314-795-0004)

314-795-0004
Fax: 618-281-7153
In Illinois: 618-281-3245

Email Us

About Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Services

Onsite Shredding Service
Commercial Shredding Service
Residential Shredding Services
Hard Drive Destruction
Data Destruction
Routine Service
One-time or Purge Service
Document Shredding Services
Mobile Shredding Services
Document Destruction Services
Residential Shredding Services
Medical Records Shredding

Categories

STLCHAMBERLOGONAID AAA LogoOFallon-Chamber-Logo

Review Us

  • Business Shredding
  • Residential Shredding
  • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 · Secure Document Destruction